Info: To read the complete code of conduct ordinance and to see the rest of the City Council agenda, visit http://bit.ly/1oJvzKG"

Do: Strive at all times to serve the best interests of the city regardless of personal interest.

Don't: Expend city funds for personal use or benefit.

Do: Disclose personal or professional relationships with any company or individual who has a business relationship with the city.

Don't: Solicit or accept anything of value from anyone doing business with the city.

The Boulder City Council on Tuesday will hold a public hearing and vote on a new code of conduct that seeks to clarify the expectations and prohibitions on elected officials and city employees.

The ordinance limits criminal penalties to issues like bribery and profiteering, but it also encourages disclosure of a broader range of personal connections than the previous code of conduct. Public officials who are found to be in violation of the code could be censured or even removed from office, depending on the severity of the violation.

The ordinance is the result of roughly 18 months of discussions on how to create a code of conduct that reflects community expectations of public officials while still allowing government to function in a smaller city like Boulder where many officials have personal connections.

Advertisement

The new ordinance was prompted by criticism of elected officials for voting for friends and political associates for volunteer board positions and for not disclosing some investments in their financial disclosures.

City Council members defended their votes but agreed that the city's ethics codes needed to be clarified. The Boulder City Council also is working on revising its financial disclosure rules. That issue will be the topic of a special study session Thursday.

In a memo to the City Council about the ordinance, City Attorney Tom Carr said the intent is for the code "to be more accessible through clarity."

"The proposed ordinance would strengthen the sanctions for dishonest behavior, while at the same time clarifying what is acceptable and appropriate behavior for city elected officials, employees and appointed volunteers," he wrote.

For example, the previous code of conduct was clear that a council member shouldn't vote on a contract that involved a business partner, but it wasn't clear whether they should disclose a personal connection before voting for an appointment to a volunteer position.

The old code of conduct talked about avoiding an appearance of impropriety. That vague phrase that could mean different things to different people has been struck and replaced by a list of 10 "expectations" of public officials and employees and 18 prohibited behaviors.

The new ordinance also removes a provision that said having consulted with the city attorney about a potential conflict of interest was a defense against prosecution.

Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum said that provision, known as the "get out of jail free card," created an awkward situation for the city attorney, who was both the adviser to individual council members and the enforcer of the city's code. However, removing criminal penalties for mere conflict of interest also makes defense against prosecution unnecessary.

The ordinance calls for the city attorney to appoint neutral outside counsel if "a significant controversy" develops under the code of conduct.

The previous code prohibited council members from accepting free tickets to events. The new code of conduct allows council members to accept one free ticket to a sporting event, concert or other event each year, provided the value of the ticket is less than $150 and is provided by a government or nonprofit organization, so long as the purpose "is to promote the relationship between the city and that government or nonprofit organization."

City Council members had said they should be able to accept occasional tickets to University of Colorado football games when they provide an opportunity to network with university officials.

The code prohibits elected officials from accepting gifts from people who have business before the city, except for campaign contributions allowed under the law and occasional non-monetary gifts with a value of $53 or less.

The code allows City Council members to accept paid travel to conferences on city business when it is paid for by another government entity or a nonprofit agency. Some council members want officials to also be able to accept paid travel from private entities in certain circumstances, and such a provision could be debated on Tuesday.

In the last year, City Council members have been more forthcoming about their ties to projects and appointees, even when those ties don't constitute a conflict of interest and they don't recuse themselves.

Appelbaum said he hopes the new code of conduct institutionalizes that new norm of openness.

"My goal would be for it to be more commonplace to bring it up and that it would not be controversial to do so," he said. "If we can accomplish that, we'll have come a long way."

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story